Apparatus and method for condensing zinc-vapor.



c. H. FULTON. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONDENSING ZlNC VAPOR APPLICATIONFILE-D JAN.Q8. 91.7-

1 ,271,56(). Patented July 9, 1918 3SHEETS-SHEET \A C. H. FULTON.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 0R CONDENSING zmc VAP OR.

APPLICATION FILED I .191]. 1,271,560. Patented July 1), ms.

' 3 EEEE TS- EEEEE 2.

C. H. FULTON. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONDENSINQ ZINC VAPOR APPLICAHONFlLED 1ANB.19\7.'

Patent'vd July 9, 12m.

l I range between 870 practical purposes,

CHARLES H. FULTON, OF ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

METALLURGICAL. LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR-PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS AND mnrnon ron connnnsnve To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FULTON, sti

a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus and Methodsfor CondensingZinc-Vapor, of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description, such as Will enable others which it appertams toskilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the condensa tion of zinc vapor.

In the condensation liquid. spelter the products of distillation thatenter the condenser from the retort or distilling apparatus usuallyconsists of substantially equal volumes of zinc vapor and p O ata-temperature of approximately 1000 to 1300 C.

In a mixture of zinc vapor and C0 of the above composition, nocondensation to liquid zinc takes place until the temperature hasdropped to approximately 870 C. .It thenbcgins and continues until atemperature of 419 (1, the melting point of zinc, is reached.Theoretically, therefore, the temperature of the condenser should C. and419 C., but for the temperature at the spelter tap of the condensershould not be less than 500 (1, seats to insure the discharge of liquidspelter. It is also desirable that the coolingofthe temperature at whichthey enter the condenser down to 500 C. should be gradual, rather thanrapid.

The heat liberated by the condensation of the zinc vapor serves to heatthe condensing surfaces of the condenser. The condenser loses heat byradiation into the atmosphere,

and unless the condenser construction is such Y that the input of. heatis balanced by the. outgo, it is evident that in order to maintain theproper temperature within the ,condenser, it is necessary to'either.heat or cool the condenser, dependent upon the relation of the amount ofheat radiated to that liberated by the condensation'of vapor. Anotherimportant consideration in the condensation of zinc vapor to liquidmetal is the amount f surface th t is necessa y-for the condensa-Specification of Letters Patent.

. tion of a 'tained at gases from the velocity,

cooling said condensing surfaces,

ZING-VAPOR.

Patented July 9, rats.

Application filed January 8, 1917-. Serial No. 141,177.

given quantity of zinc vapor. And '11 another important consideration isthe or rate of flow of the zinc vapor velocity surfaces of the conoverthe condensing denser.

One object of'my present invention is to provide a practicable zinccondenser that can be built designed that the condensing surfaces caneither be heated or cooled, thereby making it possible to keeptheC011de11Ser. Witliin the proper temperature range. of zinc vapor intowith liquid zinc materially aiding the condensation.

As previously stated, the temperature of t-hecondenser should rangebetween 870 C. and"500 0., and while it ispossible to maintain thistemperature range with a condenser constructed in accordance with my invention, I have discovered that if zinc vapor is passed through acondenser which is mainsuch a temperature that less than the usual.percentage of zinc willbe' condensed to the liquid form and said vaporthereafter admitted to another condenser "whose condensing surfaces aremaintained at a lower temperature and within a difierent temperaturerange that the condensing operation can be controlled more easily thanis possible when the condensing operation is carried on in a singlecondenser who e temperature rangesb etWQn 870 C. and a 00 C.

Therefore, another object of, my present invention is to provide amethod of condensing zinc vapor that can be easily controlled.

Briefly described, my improved condenser consists of a relatively longpassageway through which the gas stream from the distilling apparatustravels, condensing sur-- faces in said passageway upon which socallednuclei of Z1110 gather and over which the gas stream sweeps whiletraveling' through the passageway at a definite .and meansforeitherheating or in large sizes and which isso' Mv improved method, brieilystated, conin causing the gas stream or products uof distillation from azinc distilling apparatusito pass through a condenser or condensing'chamber that is maintained at a sufliciently high temperature to causepart of temperature,

the zinc in said stream to be condensed to liquid spelterand:thereafter, causing said gas stream to enter a condenser orcondens-' that is maintained at a lower ing chamber a so as toconvertsome of the zinc vapor into liquid spelter and the remainder into bluepowder. It is immamethod which COIlSlStS terial' what particular type ofcondensers or condensing chambers are-used in practising my method, andwhile I have herein illustrated an" appara usfor practising my of aplurality of my improved condensers connected up intandem relation, Iwish-it to be understood that my improved method is not limited to usevwith an apparatus of the particular construction herein shown.

Figure 1 of the tional view illustrating a condenser con.- structed inaccordance with vmy lnventlon A and connected in tandem relation with acondenser of somewhat similar design, so as to produce an apparatus forpractising my novel method above described. I

Figs. 2 and 3 are. horizontal sectional views, taken on the lines 2- -2and of will travel through the Fig 1.

l4= is a vertical sectional :view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a development of the tubular membersthat form the outer shellsof the condensers shown-"in Fig. 1, illustrating the passageways of theReferring the upper drawmgs 1s a vertical secarrangement of the bafflesor vanes in the condenser A thrmgh which the zincvapor travels. 1

to the drawings, which illus-f trate thepreferred form of my invention,A

and B .desl'gnate'two zinc condensers that- .are arranged in tandemrelation, or in such- .a manner that-a gas .stream or products ofdistillation from a zinc distilling'apparatus condenser A, and

; angle of approx1mately'90, said vanes bethereafter, enter thecondenser B. v The con-v denser B is similarin general design to'thecondenser A, but it is smaller =-and the ann'ular portion of thecondensing passageway of same is not'pr'ovided with bafiles. Eachcondenser compr ses a base 1 that is preferupright position, wall orshell ofthe condenser,

I through which the gas ably built up of refractory material, atubularshap d: ember 2- of any preferred cross from the upper endofsame,

follow the path indicated by sectional form arranged on the base 1 in anso as to form the-outer shapedmembe'r 3 arranged inside of the memher 2and spaced'away from the side walls of same, so .asto jform a passagewayY stream travels, and a tubular-shaped member-e arranged inside atubular- :which the gas stream flows. ends of the members -2- and 1upper herein throughout the entire height of the passageof the member3and spaced a'way therefrom,

so as to form a flue X through which a coolmembiers 2, 3 anda arepreferably formed from refractory material 1 and are-of cy ,lindrical,shape in cross section, and the gas stream will circulate upwardlythroughthe-imember etc the duct 5 that leads from the'u'pper end of saidmember, and thence through said duct to the annular passageway Ybetween'the members 2 and 3. Baffle? 7 that. are arranged in thepassageway of the condenser A serve as condensing surfaces over whichthe gas stream sweeps when the condenser is in operation, and members 8are arranged inside of the memher 4, so as to retard the passage of thegas stream through said member L and also serve ascondensing surfaces,thebaffle menibers 8 preferab1y consisting of fiat plates of refractorymaterial that are arranged horizontally, one above the other instaggered relation, as shown in Figs.

her t into said 'ing. or heating medium can circulate. The

Y formed 6 inthe 1 and 2, and slip:

ported. by struts .or uprights .9 which may consist of short sections ofpipe made of refractory material. The 'bafiies 7 in the 'annular portionY of the condensing'passageway preferablyconsistof inclined vanes thatmember 3 at an extend spirally around the ing so arranged that the gasstream will follow a tortuous path after entering the pas- Y. Asshown-inFig. 5, two of the sageway that extend downwardly from the vanes 7 a.short sageway, .and thetwo intermediate vanes 7 extend upwardly from thebottom of said passageway and terminate a short distance thus causingthe gas stream to the arrows Fig. 5. In the condenser A shown a end ofthe passageway Y terminate distance from the bottom of 'saidpasway .Yfrom the lower to the. upper end of same, so as the inlet port, wherethe gas stream enters the assageway X, and the outlet port, where saigasstream leaves said passageway At the lower end/ of the passageway Yare one to form a dividing wall between ent invention, a gas outlet duct11 is prosaid condenser B, as indicated vided for conducting the gasstream from the lower end of the assageway Y of the condenser A into thenet 6' in the base of the condenser B, the gas stream pass' from saidduct 6 upwardly through the member 4 ofthe condenser B, and thencethrough the duct 5 to the upper end of the passageway Y of the condenserB, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5. If the condenser A is usedalone, or not in combination with another condenser, as shown in Fig. 1,ports (not shown) will be provided at the upper end of the passageway Yof the condenser A through which the carbon monom'd gas can escape, butwhen said condenser A is arranged in tandem relation withv anothercondenser B, as herein shown, way Y of the condenser A will not beprovided with discharge ports for the carbon monoxid gas, but, on thecontrary, carbon monoxid gas discharge ports will be provided only inthe condenser B, preferably at the upper end of the passageway Y of bythe refer ence character 12 in Fig.5.

The condensing surfaces of the condenser A can be maintained at thepropertemperature, by supplying either a heating medium .or a coolingmedium to the annular flue X between the two tubular-shaped members 3and 4, the upper end of said flue communi- 1 eating with the atmospherethrough an 40 opening 13 formed in a removable cover 14 at the upper endof said flue, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the flue Xcommunicates with a chamberZ formed in the base of the condenser, and aduct 15 leads from said chamber Z, as shown in Fig. 3, to a chamber Wformed in the base of thecondenser that serves either as a combustionchamber or as an air chamber, dependent upon whether the condenser isbeing heated or cooled. If desired, a checkerwork of brick 16 can'bearranged in the annular flue X, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as toabsorb heat from the products of combustion, or the heated air that issupplied to said flue under certain conditions, and thus assist inmaintaining the condensing surfaces in the mem her 4 and inthepassageway Y at the proper temperature. The chamber W in the base of thecondenser is preferably arranged below a passageway '17 in said basethrough which the gas stream travels in passing to the duct 6, and saidpassagewayl? is connected by meansof a port 18 with a supply duct 19that leads from a retort or distilling appathe' passage ratus (notshown). If desired, a valve 20 can be provided for controlling the port19. The duct 6 that leads from the passageway 17 to the lower end of thetubular-shaped member 4 slopes downwardly toward the passageway 17, asshown in Fig. 1, so as to conduct spelter from the member 4 to saidpassageway, and a spelter tap 17 is formed in one end of the passageway17 as shown in Fig. 4, so as to permit the liquid metal to be drawn fromsame.

The chamber W is provided in its end walls with openings 21 that areadapted to serve either as burner ports or air supply holes, and baflies22 are arranged in said chamber W in z ig-zag relation or in any otherpreferred manner, so as to direct the Assuming that the gas stream orthe pro- I ducts of the distillation of the ore-charge,-

consisting of approximately equal volumes of zinc vapor and carbonmonoxid gas, enter the condenser A at a temperature of ap proximately1050 (L, and that the carbon 'monoxid gas leaves the condenser at atemperature of approximately 600 (1, there is liberated, by each poundof zinc conculation assuming an ore charge that con tains 7 74 lbs. ofzinc, this amounts to 813,474-

I densed, 1051 B. T. U. For purposes of cal Assuming that the interiorcondensing sur 1 faces are at the proper temperature, there musttherefore be dissipated every hour this quantity of heat. Thedissipation of this heat will take place by radiation from the exteriorsurface of the condenser and the interior flue surface of the condenser.Whether the condenser must be heated or cooled will depend upon theamount of heat which is radiated from it.- If the amount of heatradiated'from the condenser is greater than 34,000,000 calories perhour, the condenser will have to be heated, if not, it will have to becooled. Assuming an interior temperature in the center member 4 of850"(3., an exterior temperature in the central annular flue X of 200 C., aninterior temperature in the annular passageway Y of 600 C. and anexterior temperature of the outerwall 2 of the condenser of 200 0.,

the total amount of heat radiated per hour from the condens r, as cnstructed in er- I the condenser.

60 v liquid, thesesmallparticlesof liquid already facilitate the furthercondensation or the vapor. -Some surface must bep'ro- .v1de 1 'for theseso-called nuclei to gather fed -theother side and ".tain size and of,certain insulating fractory material, be 10,110,000 calories -per .hour;'It is, therefore, apparent thatp there is 5 1- 7 must be disipated-byincreased I thecondnser, herein shown the'coohng-is: f p 1 efiected by 1sprayingiwater' on the. exterior wall of the condenser and by passing.air'through the central an excess of heat ainoun' to 23,784,000calories per hour, w ch cool This amount-of delivered to. the=condenser.. When and a point may be. reached,

"garatus is started fromthe. cold, in or er to a-heating tothecondenser, so as to the condensing surface at -the. p per temperature.'Aspreviously stated, 1 the .walls of the-condenser'are built of relatively p991 for; example, .as' "fire brick, and if desired, someportionsof the condenser fromwhich. frheat radiatesmaybe covered withheat-in- 'material,' such, for example, as silo-cel, so thatit will'bepossible to-maintain 1 "ahightemperature on one side oisaid 'portion's-tand "a relatively low temperature on ep p v amountof heat transfen, In

heat-conducting material, such,

T-theouter wall or shell of the con enser' preferably so proporfibnedand tflhiat the radiation loss will be balancedhy. i: e

, heat input, the outer wall or shell-of thez'condenser A-herein oneimportant confor the condensation of a given zinc vapor. thecondensation ofzinc vapor-to hf (1 metal, as-well a .s in

the condensation o water-so .called nuclei of condensation,- are'necessary'; that is if there be provided in a space "a large n 4 refpoints.ornuc1ei upon which the vapor, has been-condensed intoiacilited.,Inmy

annular flue of 1 up y v V cooling is'necessary'when theniaximumsupplyofainc vapor is amountdecreases, the amount of coolinginstead of coolingthe condenser it of fire f protected-011116"outersideby acov 'of As previously sta .siderationintheicondensation ofzinc vatgcr toliquid metal isthe amount of surface at 'fation in asecond on, and if la'cohstruction is obtained eons sk cs ofsurfacesagainst Y is constantly. swept, condensation is greatly plished. byprovi areso I 4 a-tortuous pa in trav through'said is constan y sweptiover said surfaces, and furthermore, by providwhich the zinc vaporimproved condenser the desirable results just reierredto are Iaecomthecondenser with a 'relativdy l con enser p 'waythat isequipped gthcondensmg aces which.

dwigned'that the zinc. vapor follows f .the condenscr with a'fluethrough which a a eating medium or medium can bepassed,.so as'tomaintain said condensing 7 surfaces at the proper temperature .necessarytocondense zinc vapor to liquid metal;

temperature conditions under which zinc vapor will condense tojliquids'pelter a ,'reas follows: I a

' Partial res- Pereent.oi gg .sumot izhe Temperature. total zinc zinc. Ix condensed.-

1 Jlfllimeten. -1mna'. e aao s02 None. 25 15 -v no .800 2o. so @152 m..10 16 5 95 r as x Y 0'10 a.

his means essentially, air sample, the

provided sufficient time is given, and surface is offered, when thetemperature is 800 0.,

72%of thefzinc will be condensed to-the liquid form; or,'whenthe-temperature is about'725 C.',"90%jof the zinc be condensed toliquidiorm; Now, the dro from .870" G. to 725 C. is-on1y.1'45fC., anthere-. iore, it is obvious'thatit is-much easier to;

maintain 'a' condenser within this range 1 than tolattempt to maintainit withinthe eater rangemeoessary for complete con- .1 ensafion;Accordingly,-I have devised a method vion condensing zinc [vapor whichis tofore used, in that the'condensation' is efiected {.b or in otherwords, in aplurality ogconidedsers having difierea me e e i nse ring prangeirom 870 (lite 500 C. -In carry-- ingfout method I preferto con--insteadpf'm a: ture dense part 'of the-zinc vapor 'in-,a conthe methodshere denserthat at another hi h temperature, the r being 'ofthe metal becondensed as liquidfpreferaby; Y from 870 C. 130700 13,80 thatabout 90%spelter and completifi the condensing operco relatively cool and whichwill 1i but mostly 9 e second condenser ispreferably-smaller than thefirst condenser and isarra tandem relation .with same,: and w e anysuitable type of condensersmay used in enser that isoperatcd producesome ue powder.

practising my method, I prefer to use an apparatus ofv the kind hereinillustrated, which is composed of two condensers A and B whosecondensing chambers are connectedtogether in sucha manner that the gasstream, after traveling through the condenser A, will enter'thecondenser As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

condenser A is provided with a gas stream discharge passageway 11 thatleads from the annular passageway Y of the condenser A into the heatedpassageway 17 in the base of the condenser B. The condenser B-is of ofsaid vapor will be converted into blue powder in the annular passagewayY, said annular passageway being provided at its lower end with one ormore clean-out openings that are normally closed by removable covers 24.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1.' A zinccondenser provided-with tubular-shaped members arranged one within theother and spaced apart soas to form a passageway through which a gasstream fromazinc distilling apparatus travels.

2. A zinc condenser provided with a passageway through which a gasstream from a zinc distilling apparatus travels,

condensing surfaces in said passageway of such form and arrangement thatthe gas stream will travel through said passageway at a definitevelocity and impinge upon or sweep over said condensing surfaces, andmeans whereby said'pas'sageway may be either heated or cooled so as tocontrol the temperature of said condensing surfaces;

3. A zinc condenser, comprising a flue through which a medium canbepassed to control the temperature of the condenser, a passagewaysurrounding said flue through which a gas stream from a zinc distillingapparatus travels, and condensing surfaces in said passageway that causesaid stream of gas to follow a tortuous path in traveling through saidpassageway.

4. A zinc condenser, comprising a vertically-disposed' structureprovided with a condensing passageway of substantially tubular form thatextends longitudinally of same between the center and the periphery ofsaid structure, and condensing surfaces in said passageway arranged insuch a manner that products of distillation thatenter said passagewaywill flow in a zig-zag path traveling through said passageway.

5. A zinc condenser provided I with a substantially annular-shapedpassageway through which a stream of gas supplied to B." the condenserflows, and baflies in said passageway that constitute condensingsurfaces and which are so arranged that the gas will flowlongitudinallyof. said passageway in opposite directions while travelingcircumferentially through' same.

6. A zinc condenser provided with a substantially tubular-shapedpassageway through which a gas stream from a zinc distilling apparatusflows, and means in said passageway for causing'the gas to flowlongitudinally of said passageway in o posite directions and also followa substantially spiral course in traveling through said passageway.

7. A "zinc condenser provided with a substantially annular-shapedpassageway I that is adapted to receive a stream of gas from a zincdistilling apparatus, and substantially spirally-disposed vanes orbafiies in said passageway arranged in such a manner that the gas willfollow a zig-zagcourse in traveling circumferentially through saidpassageway.

8. zinc condenser provided with a passageway through which a stream ofgas from a zinc distilling apparatus flows, said passageway comprisingone portion that is provided with baflies which tend to impede the flowof gas through same, and a different portion provided with'substantially spirally-disposed baflies which cause the gas to 'beprojected with considerable force against condensingsurfaces.

9. A zinc condenser provided with a passageway through which a stream ofgas containing zinc vapor fio-ws, said passageway comprisingcommunicating, centrallyarranged portions that are provided with membersthat serve as condensing surfaces and also as baffles which cause thegas to sweep over said condensing surfaces.

10. A zinc condenser, comprising a verti- 'cally-disposed. structureprovided with an annular passageway that extends longitudinally of same,condensing surfaces in said passageway on which zinc Fnuclei form,.

and means for enabling heat to be absorbed .from said condensingsurfaces or-"additional densing passageway that comprises a tubular of.said passagewaythrough which a. hentm tm mo w ms m 13. Av zinc condenserprovided. 'withj-an flue to which sheeting medium or a can besupplied,and conv -.--.f rom azlnc apparatus flows, a;flue'eombinedwithsaidpassegewaymchem J "ber insaid base can be eitherheated said Y 19. A"zinc'qzxnide'nse'arpro 'ded with-abase f that isequipped a passagewaythrough "of gas su .pliedto the" densing surfaceson the interior and eX-te rio'r 0f the flue which the'heat pro; duced bythe conde sation of the zinc vapon; '14:". Aszincflcondenserformed-byapluralityoftubular-shaped members arranged one -w ithi n theother and spaced spent so as to forma flue that is interposed between0011):

pmgeways-through-which a. gas fr m azinc distilling apparatus ows,- saidflue adapted to be supplied; witha or. a for the ,5 15; Ai'j'zinccondenser composed of a subv ;t.ubu1ar-shaped member-closed at 2 itsends; an' annular'flue arrangedinside of nemberand spaced away from the.sidewalls thereof so as to form, ani 311-- 1'1u1a.1" passageway, a.connection j- -.betwee nlsaid passageway and-1 the 1 {space ,by saidflue; meansfor,

. 16'. =A-z'incoonamiprcviaswi i; a ver;

which a stream of froma. zinc distilling apparatus is supplied, anannular flue that plyingastream of gas" from a. zincdisso 1 .--'hy1saidus, and means for-supplying either. 9; heating or. to:

t 3' l 'pa ratus to the space surroundedticallysdisposedftubular-shaped' member to g fsurrounds said.member;a.-shell that sur-' r 1 rounds said flue, :bafii'esarranged, 011'- the,interior of said shell on the: interior- .j of. said 'tubularshapedfmember; and means fwhereby eithera heating or a; cool-.

" ing medium canbesupplied osaidflu 17 A zinccondenser provided: with o..ver-

member, shell that s rmed um can'bs supplied-to Sea flne,--the msge h 'ier r o id $1 911 -'in'gof substantially irall -disposed vanes, {a'ndthebaflles on'th interior of said tubu- 4 formed by be tiallyhorizontally-disposed, plates-ab one above the other and spaoed apart,-

1 8. jA-zinc mndenser, comprising abase,

ai; structure on' said base providedwith passageway which. aj stream ofgasand. a 'QOI'meCti n b r andsaid'flue.

which a stream condensertravelgand means or ena.bl,ing

cooled said pas'mgeway'to-beeither heated; or Y 20. A; zinc nest,spr'issg s y Gibb? cally-disposed structure provided with "-s 1.

passageway which so formed that the Pr u on supplied w the denser canflow longitudinally of'said sftr ifejp w t o and also circum turein opferentially throng "the' structure, and peratureof' said strnc-r I.ture' controlled; 1 w.

. 1 provided means-for enablingittobe either heatedflor'. cooled; stubular shaped. member arranged on said an, upright I position andclosedat itsfupper end so toform the outer wall of the-condenser; an I.--annu1ar'flue inside of said member :tizir enabling 'th e 2L "A zincmndenser,

"and provided at jts'lower "end with an inlet' opening up through-which, a. heating :me-

i .3 -;.dium'-or a, medium irom the base l d can circulate,andeondensing 'ar-f.

on opposite. sides ofsaidflue.- 2 f A zincreondensen -comprising a.base,

prises a central tubular shaped portion thet miss-n;

a chamber that' is adapted to A serve as'a combustion-chamberor as fa,cool sir'supplyfchamber, a. structure on said-base i f provided a." gaspassageway that com-'- 1 communicates fwith a .n annular. portion whichsurrounds ssime,"ba.ffles. in. sa d pas-- -ssgm owny that s'erve'ascondensing surfaces, annular flue arranged between the two portionsoisaid passageway, and a connection between said flue-and theichamber in

